Four-star defensive tackle Mickey Johnson of St. Paul's committed to LSU on Friday, in part, he said, because he did not want to take the chance of there not being a spot available for him with the Tigers come Wednesday, National Signing Day.

"Toward the end, if you're undecided, the pressure starts to build on you," said Johnson, who chose LSU over Tennessee and Arkansas. "Teams start losing spots when other people start committing. I'm happy with my decision, and I don't regret my decision. Now that it's over, maybe I can get back to my normal life."

Johnson (6 feet 1, 310 pounds) is ranked No. 17 at his position nationally by Rivals.com and No. 19 by Scout.com. He is the 11th-best prospect in Louisiana according to Rivals and made the ESPNU Top 150.

He has the necessary test score to be eligible as a freshman, but still has "some work to do" in his final semester to get the necessary GPA in his core courses, according to St. Paul's Coach Kenny Sears.

Johnson only visited his final three choices, but received more than 40 offers.

Still, there was the chance that LSU might not have been as receptive to signing Johnson if he had waited until next week.

The Tigers, who can sign 23 players after self-imposed sanctions, have 22 commitments counting Johnson, and are reportedly saving the 23rd for defensive end Jermauria Rasco of Evangel, rated No. 4 nationally at his position.

LSU is still in the hunt for defensive tackle Tim Jernigan of Columbia High in Lake City, Fla. He is ranked No. 3 at the position.

Jernigan is reportedly down to LSU and Florida State although he is visiting Florida this weekend.

Johnson said he has been keeping abreast of the situation along with Sears, but had no concerns that if he had waited to commit he might be asked to grayshirt, not enrolling at LSU until January 2012.

"I don't think that's going to happen," he said. "When I called Coach (Les) Miles this morning, he told me I was the name at the top of the list on their board. I'm planning to come in this summer, work hard and compete to be a starter this fall."

But Sears acknowledged that grayshirting is a possibility.

"We'll know more over the summer," he said. "Sometimes grayshirting isn't necessarily a bad thing. But to be honest, I don't think it's going to be an issue."

Whatever happens, Johnson said he ultimately chose LSU because he felt more comfortable with the people there and because of its proximity to his home in Covington.

At LSU, Johnson will be part of a recruiting class projected to finish ranked in the top five in the country. Sixteen of the players committed to the Tigers are from Louisiana.

"I think because so many of us are from Louisiana we're going to do everything we can to dedicate ourselves to this state and win national championships for LSU," he said. "We're going to be a really dangerous group."